Debunking 5 Popular Myths About Today’s Marijuana

There are a lot of myths surrounding marijuana, understandably so, since it’s been only recently that the plant has caught a break.

It’s important to know that there are two compounds that have been studied pretty well—THC and CBD. They’re both very different. THC is the popular one, gets you high and lends itself to a more recreational use. CBD is non-psychoactive, containing tons of anti-inflammatory agents that can be used to treat depression and anxiety.

Weed Isn’t As Strong As It Used To Be

According to Ryan Vandrey, a professor from John Hopkins University, THC in cannabis is way higher than it used to be. Since cannabis is now a business, there are expert botanists that breed plants that contain larger quantities of THC. So maybe people smoked more weed in the ’70s, but that doesn’t make today’s marijuana any less potent.

All Weed Is The Same

There are two major types of marijuana, Indica and Sativa, both of which produce different highs. In short, Sativas are psychoactive while Indicas are more relaxing. It’s a little more complicated than that, since most marijuana plants contain a mix of both Indica and Sativa, but this generally works as a rule of thumb when you’re trying to smoke some marijuana and don’t know what you’re in the mood for.

Synthetic Marijuana Is Safe

Synthetic marijuana is much stronger than regular marijuana and it can lead to some really awful side effects, such as psychosis. According to Yasmin Hurd, Ph.D, this is due to the fact that synthetic marijuana mostly consists of THC, and it doesn’t have enough CBD to counter the anxiety inducing properties of the compound.

You Can’t Overdose On Weed

You can’t die from marijuana, but you can have a pretty awful time if you take too much. These overdoses include symptoms of anxiety, paranoia, dizziness, and loss of coordination. Fun fact: the only way a person could die from a marijuana overdose would be to consume 15,000 pounds of weed in under 15 minutes. Not happening any time soon.

You Can Cheat A Urine Test

While there are tons of products that claim to do this, it’s very very unlikely/practically impossible. Not happening. THC can be detected in urine for up to 10 days after consumption, 30 days if you’re a chronic user. Most products that claim to cheat urine tests simply dilute your urine, which tests can pick up on, flagging your sample as invalid.

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